Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----which is closer to two thirds than half. I do agree with the Deputy, though. We need to have more of it, and we need to see it on the ground.

Ireland continues to be seen as a location of choice for new investors as well as long-established companies that choose to further invest in substantial expansions of their operations here. That is borne out in the IDA report from last year. In 2024, direct employment in IDA client companies stood at more than 300,000 people nationally for the third year in a row despite some downsizing in the tech sector.

Ireland still offers a competitive, consistent and transparent corporate tax regime, good access and connectivity and an excellent return on investment as well as being an attractive environment where people can live and work. The Government is fully aware of the competitiveness challenge the country faces as it competes for foreign direct investment. As we are taking the necessary steps to position Ireland for the future, we will continue to place cost, planning, energy and research and development at the centre of our forward looking policymaking, all reflected in policy commitments in the new programme for Government. Just yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, launched the IDA's new strategy for the coming five-year period. The timing is opportune as we face into uncertain times.

Central to the IDA's new strategy is an emphasis on partnering with its existing 1,800 clients, employing more than 3,000 people across this country, to identify opportunities and safeguard and strengthen long-term investment in Ireland. The strategy also affirms the IDA's unrelenting focus on the regions. Building on the excellent performance over the previous strategy, the IDA is targeting 55% of the investments to regional locations in the next five years. As a regional representative like Deputy McCormack, we will work to make sure that is not just speak but that it is actually implemented. We will keep on that. I thank the Deputy.

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